'Persa Strong' billboards in Chicago, Bristol for NU QB

Northwestern is going into the heart of college football country -- Bristol, Conn. -- to promote Dan Persa's Heisman Trophy campaign.

Make that the heart of college football opinion country. Bristol is home to ESPN, and NU officials have bought billboard space there on a key artery. Chicago commuters can see the ad next week on a Kennedy Expressway billboard at Kimball Avenue.

NU officials chose the theme "Persa Strong" after ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman named Persa the 10th-strongest player -- and strongest quarterback -- in the nation. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Persa can bench-press 360 pounds and squat 520.

Persa has not seen the billboards but said, "Anything that can get more attention for our team around the country is cool."

The Pennsylvania native made the coaches' All-Big Ten first team last season after completing a national-best 73.5 percent of his throws, firing 15 touchdown passes and running for nine scores. Bodog.com lists him as a 95-1 shot to win the Heisman.

NU officials also will send 7-pound purple dumbbells to 80 media members to help Persa's cause. And if Persa gets off to a hot start?